1. Jordan Tucker
Butler basketball got to open this present a few days before Christmas but I think the entire program is ecstatic about the addition of Jordan Tucker to the rotation. A top-100 recruit out of high school, Tucker originally committed and enrolled at Duke prior to transferring after playing just 14 minutes for the team last season. As a midseason transfer, Tucker was not eligible to play for Butler until Dec. 16 but he is making up for lost time so far.
Through his first three games as a Dawg, Tucker has been electric. Even though he is clearly still developing and learning on the court, his raw talent level is off the charts and it is showing on the offensive end. He has played just 34 minutes so far in his career with Butler but has cashed in 27 points and 13 rebounds during that time. And while he has shot 6-for-10 from deep, he has also shown that he is more than just a jump shooter. Unlike just about anyone else on the Butler roster, J-Tucks has already shown the ability to draw contact around the basket and get to the free throw line. Furthermore, he is a much better rebounder than anyone would have anticipated.
Tucker might not have a ton of playing time under his belt but he has already exceeded my expectations on both ends of the floor. He is a versatile offensive talent, developing defender, and strong rebounder. He has also made a couple of very nice passes. On the whole, Tucker is the kind of player that seriously raises the ceiling for this Butler team. If he continues to develop throughout this year…watch out.